世界華商大會每兩年舉辦一次，雲集世界各地華商及有興趣赴會人士舉行之世界性盛會。大會為非政治性、無宗教色彩、富多元文化之組織。大會提供華商建立聯擊，交流訊息，傳統與文化之繼承，以致為世界各地人士創造親善關係，繁榮經濟，進步生活。

首屆世界華商大會於一九九一年在新加坡舉行，一九九三年第二屆在香港，一九九五年第三屆在曼谷；而一九九七年第四屆世界華商大會則在加拿大溫哥華成功舉行。

為爭取主辦一九九七年第四屆世界華商大會在加拿大溫哥華舉行，加拿大中華總商會創會會長黃國裕先生，在一九九五年初榮獲加拿大帝國商業銀行創辦贊助，連同創會會董高士美、章子惠、宋燕華於一九九五年三月成立加拿大中華總商會，爭取主辦權。繼而榮獲協平世博發展有限公司，卑詩省政府貿易發展局，加航航空公司和萬全人壽保險集團等贊助支持鼓勵。在加國三級政府，新加坡中華總商會，香港中華總商會，泰國中華總商會，前任卑詩省省督林思齊博士，加拿大克里田總理，前卑詩省哈葛省長、新加坡內閣資政李光耀先生、陳永裕先生、香港霍英東博士、泰國鄭明如博士、前聯邦亞太事務部陳卓愉部長、華人社區榮譽主席黃威先生 劉禹煌、許知仁、郭敦禮、馮永發、黃光遠、何定國、崔丕勝、賀鳴笙、余宏榮、李綺華、吳仲輝、朱健業、鄭天華等名譽顧問；各華人及主流商會，僑團包括萬多名會員的中僑互助會，中西商界傑出領袖等等的大力共同支持下，由黃國裕先生領導的加拿大中華總商會競投游說團隊，於一九九五年五月，從這世界性的公開競投賽中為加拿大溫哥華，勇奪一九九七年第四屆世界華商大會主辦權。並於同年六月二十八日在市中心酒店舉行了溫哥華史無前例之大型公佈酒會：宣佈一九九七年第四屆世界華商大會已開始籌辦，並將於一九九七年八月二十五日至二十八日在加拿大溫哥華市中心貿易及會議中心隆重舉行。

主辦權獲得後，溫哥華多個華商會人士對參與籌備大會事務熱心非常。第四屆世界華商大會在溫哥華舉行，不只是可以吸引大批海外華商，到加拿大溫哥華觀光考察投資，協助加拿大大中小型生意發展，擴展海外市場，增加加國就業機會，提升加國華商地位；又可以展示出本地華商可以與加國主流商人，合作主辦對加國經濟有貢獻之活動，而最重要的是藉著這次大型活動，可以團結溫哥華及加拿大全國之華人、華商、商會和社團，成為一股強而有力的團結力量，為華人、華商、加拿大、大中華及世界各地經濟文化作出貢獻。為確保第四屆世界華商大會能在溫哥華順利成功舉行，黃國裕等第四屆世界華商大會創辦成員即加拿大中華總商會創會會董，於一九九五年十一月接納熱心商會人士加入該會，並委任其中九位成為加拿大中華總商會第二屆會董(理事)，與此同時，全部創會會董隨即退位讓賢。 加拿大中華總商會第二屆會董(理事)接任後，約於一九九六年十月把第四屆世界華商大會主辦權轉交予一個新的機構：「第四屆世界華商大會主辦會」( The 4th World Chinese Entrepreneurs Convention Society)，所以真正主辦第四屆世界華商大會的機構為「第四屆世界華商大會主辦會」。

該主辦會的會董成員為林思齊博士、黃光遠博士等人士，在他們的英明領導和黃威先生和何光偉先生等人士的協助下，一九九七年第四屆世界華商大會在溫哥華成功地舉行。 第四屆世界華商大會創辦成員，希望第四屆世界華商大會之精神能夠繼續發揚光大，毅然成立「第四屆世界華商大會加拿大創辦發展會」，重拾第四屆世界華商大會之火炬。希望日後能夠繼續第四屆世界華商大會之精神，組織商業活動，團結華商、商會、社團和其他商界人士，為溫哥華、加拿大、大中華及世界各地之商業投資和經濟發展作出貢獻。本會會長兼主席為黃國裕先生(Richard K. Wong)，副會長為章子惠先生(Addy Cheong)和宋燕華女士(Sandra Sung)，首位名譽顧問為高士美先生(Perry Goldsmith)。

The World Chinese Entrepreneurs Convention (WCEC) is held once every two years. The WCEC aims to draw together Chinese entrepreneurs and other interested parties from all over the world to network with each other.

The WCEC is a non political, non religious, multicultural society. The WCEC allows networking and the sharing of information, traditions and cultures , allowing friendships and prosperous relationships to be developed that can benefit the greater community.

The first WCEC was held in 1991 in Singapore. The second WCEC was held in 1993 in Hong Kong. The third WCEC was held in 1995 in Bang Kok. The fourth WCEC was held in 1997 in Vancouver Canada. For the purpose of receiving the bid in Vancouver for the 1997 WCEC, Mr. Richard Wong, founding president of the Chinese Entrepreneurs Society of Canada, received Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce’s (CIBC) support in early 1995 as a corporate founding sponsor. In March 1995, under the leadership of Richard Wong, along with Perry Goldsmith, Addy Cheong, and Sandra Sung forms the Chinese Entrepreneurs Society of Canada became the founding members of the society.

After the society’s inception, the society received additional sponsorship from Concord Pacific Development Limited, BC Trade Council, Canadian Airlines, and Mutual Group Insurance Company. All three levels of Canadian government, Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Hong Kong Chinese General Chamber of Commerce, Thailand Thai-Chinese Chamber of Commerce, past lieutenant governor of BC Dr. David Lam, past Canadian Prime Minister Hon. Jean Chretien, past BC premier Hon. Mike Harcourt, Singapore prime minister Mr. Li Kwang Yue, Mr. Tan Eng Joo, Hong Kong Dr. Fok Ying Tung, Thailand Dr. Zhang Ming Yu, past Secretary of State for Asia Pacific Mr. Raymond Chan are supporters. Honorary chairman of the Chinese community society Mr. King Wong, Mr. Geoffrey Lau, Mr. Terrence Hui, Mr. Stanley Kwok, Mr. Thomas Fung, Mr. Milton Wong, Mr. David Ho, Mr. Cui Pei Sheng, Mr. James Ho, Mr. Bill Yee, Ms. Eva Lee Kwok, Mr. Danny Gau, Mr. Ronald Shon, and Mr. Douglas Jung act as honourable advisors. Both Chinese and Western business associations, the community service association, SUCCESS, and many business leaders supported Mr. Richard Wong who organized and successfully led the bid team in May 1995 to win the 1997 bid for the 4th WCEC. In June 28, 1995, an unprecedented press conference held at a hotel in Vancouver announced that the 4th WCEC will be held in Vancouver. It was then decided that the WCEC will be held from August 25 1997 – August 28 1997 at the Trade and Convention Centre. After successfully obtaining the bid rights, many business leaders around the Vancouver community were very excited. Not only can the WCEC attract a large number of overseas Chinese Entrepreneurs to Vancouver for these benefits: tourism, investments, the development of small to mid sized businesses, the expansion of overseas markets and opportunities, the increase in job opportunities and the increase in the status of Chinese Entrepreneurs, it can also develop the synergies between the Chinese Entrepreneurs and the Caucasian businessman as they work together jointly on this project. It can also unite Vancouver and the entire Canada’s Chinese Entrepreneurs, business and community associations to become a powerful force. This force can help contribute to the Canadian Chinese business people and other nationalities in the world.

For the success of this convention, Mr. Richard Wong, along with the founding members of the 4th WCEC (The founding directors of the Canadian Entrepreneurs Society of Canada), in November 1995 invited passionate business entrepreneurs into the society. Nine of these entrepreneurs became the 2nd term directors of the society, thus, at the same time; the four founding directors stepped down their posts. in October 1996, after the initiation of the nine new directors for the second term of the Chinese Entrepreneurs Society of Canada, the rights for the 4th WCEC bid was given to a new organization: The Fourth World Chinese Entrepreneurs Convention Society. Thus, the organization to officially hold and organize the 4th WCEC is The Fourth World Chinese Entrepreneurs Convention Society. This new society’s directors include Dr. David Lam, Dr. Milton Wong, etc. Under these directors’s leadership, with the assistance of Mr. King Wong, Mr. Howard Ho etc., the 4th WCEC was successfully held. In hopes that the spirit of the 4th WCEC will continue to prosper, the founding members of the Chinese Entrepreneurs Society of Canada established The 4th World Chinese Entrepreneurs Convention Canada Founding and Development Society. The purpose of this society is to receive the flame and the legacy that is left for them and to preserve and further the passion of the 4th WCEC.

To do such, the society will host business events and activities in hopes to unite the Chinese entrepreneurs, and different business and community associations in Canada. This is for the purpose of successfully contributing to Vancouver, Canada, and the greater Chinese business entrepreneurs all over the world in these areas: commerce, investments, and economic development. The president and chairman, Mr. Richard Wong, Vice Presidents Mr. Addy Cheong and Ms. Sandra Sung, and honourable advisor Mr. Perry Goldsmith.